Cushion-wheel.



` 4A. ELLIS. CUSHION WHEEL. nruou'xoi Hman rma. 24, me.

938,834.` .-Patentea N0v.2,`1909.

FIG.1 o

WITNESSES MW of. mm

INVENTOR Allarnej/ "UNITED s'rrrrns ArnN'r onirica.

BRAM ELLIS, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

CUSHION-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.l 2,r 1909.

. Applicationrled February 24, 1908. Serial No. 417,350.

lsimplify the structure and eliminate fastenmg devices such as nuts and bolts vso far as possible. I employ separa-te tread segments which have an independent movement within a wide range and myinvention provides simphled and lmproved means for. support ing and directing the'movement of these segments.

The invention is particularly described with reference to ing, in whichi' Fi re l is an elevation of a section of a Whee Fig; 2 is a section through one of the spokes andl tread in a plane containing the axis of the wheel, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the Wheel showing theends of two adjoining tread segments and adjacent parts, and Fig. 4 is a detail View similar to Fig. 3, but with a portion of the spring fork 7 cut away showing the slots in t e tread segments.

The spokes l, which are usually hollow, are forced, brazed, pinned, or otherwise secured in sockets in the hub 2. Each spoke is slotted at the end forming a rigid fork 3. Near the end each `fork 3 carries rollers 6 rotatably mounted on a stud. Another fork 7, which for identification I term a spring fork, is mounted on each rigid spoke and fork 1 so that it may reciprocate. Each sprinr fork carries a spring seat 8 consisting of a nut screwed on the fork sleeve for the purposes of adjustment. Lock nu`tS-9 servev to secure sprlng seats 8 in adjusted position. Spokes 1 `are provided with anges 10 which constitute stationary spring the accompanying drawlseats and a spring 11 is mounted on each spoke between the lixedv seat 10 and movable .seat 8. Spring forks 7 carry the weight of the wheel upon the tread segments and the s rin s cushion the movement of the forks.

he fixed spring seat 10 is arranged on the spoke to avoid loosening the spoke in its Gasket by reason of the spring reaction Q13 of one of the segments.

which might. occur if the lixed abutment for the spring were a member of the hub. j

The tread consists `of separate segments 12 having overlapping ends provided with registering flared slots 13. The o\f'erlapping segment ends rest within the slots of forks 3 and 7, and rolls 6 lie within the slots, each roll normally engaging the top of the slot The arms of forks 7 each carries two rolls 14. The trend segments are provided with, housings 15, the upper surfaces of which are shaped al each'end to form tracks 16, and one of the rolls 14 runs on each of these tracks.

It is evident that the weight of the vehicle imposed on the hub is communicated to springs 11 and by them to the spring forks 7 and thence through rolls 14 to the tread segments. The sprlngs -also normally urgethe tread segments outward until stopped by contact of the inner ends of their slots 13 with rollers 6. On encountering an inequality in the road surface any segment may move toward the wheel center against the resistance of its spring or springs. The movement 'of the segments varies greatly, dependent on the point at which -an obstructionis encountered. The shape of slots 13 permits this varying movement in a ysatisfactory manner. As either end of the segment V'moves it changes position with relation t'o the adj acentspring fork and this varying movement is guided and controlled by the corresponding rolls 14 which run on the devices rolls 14 are preferably mounted on studs 17 inte ral with the ends'of forks 7. A washer is placed outside of each roll and acotter pin 18 passes through the stud outside the washer, serving to hold the rolls in position and at the same time to permit ready removal.

lHousings 15 are usually arranged to accommodate rubber treads 19 which may be secured in any suitable jway, for instance by pins 20 passing through the enlarged portions of the housings. The adjoining ends of the rubber tread sections may be arranged to 1nearly meet and are preferably connected by pins 21. These pins serve to reserve a more or less continuous tread surace even when the adjoining ends of two segments move considerably m relation to each other and also serve to more or less damp the action of the springs.

The springs may be protected by sleeves 22 secured to the hub and forming a sliding fit upon the spring seats 8.

I claim:

l. The combinationI of a hub, rigid spokes thereon, tread segments provided with registering ared slots enga lng members of said spokes, sleeves movab y mounted on the spokes and engaging the tread segments near their outer faces and springs intermediate the hub and the sleeves.

2. The combination of a hub, rigid spokes thereon, said spokes being forked at their outer ends, atransverse member in the end of each fork, inde endent tread segments having registering ared slots inclosing said transverse members, sleeves movably mounted on the spokes and forked at their outer ends, rollers carried by the sleeves and engaging the tread segments at a considerable distance outwardly from said transverse members and springs intermediate the sleeves and the hub.

3. The combination of a hub, rigid forked spokes therein, independently movable tread segments each comprising a Web and a tread,

ing the said treads of the segments and springs intermediate the hub and the sleeves.

4. The combination of a hub, forked spokes rigidly' mounted therein, tread se ments comprising webs having their en s" overlapped Within the forks vand provided With registering flared slots and tread seg-y ments, rollers carried by the forks and nor-" mally engagin thel to s of vsaid slots, sleeves mounte for reciprocation 'on the spokes, and forked to accommodate vthe webs of the tread segments, each sidel of the fork of each sleeve carrying two rollers, said rollers engaging suitably shapedtracks'vro-v vided upon the inner `faces ofv the trea s.

Witnesses:

GEorVV. EVANS, A.v D. TOBIN.

ABRAM'ELLIS. 

